[alfa]Proper engine break in

["Korolyshyn, Dan Mr. DAC DPW ENGR RESOURCE MGMT BR" <Dan.Korolyshyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jon,

Back in the 60s a few friends bought brand new 1964 Chevy Impala Super
Sports
most had the 327 engine and 4 speeds.  The break in "theories" even back
then
were pretty much as we have been discussing.  Some guys decided to break
them
in like they were going to drive them and started racing their cars right
from
the start.  Others decided that they were going to "baby" their cars and
break
them in by the book.  As a matter of personal observation and oft discussion

later, it was pretty obvious after a year or so that those guys who
proceeded
to drive their cars "balls to the walls" from the git go were driving cars
that
smoked quite a bit and made various funny noises of all sorts while those
who
took it easy and broke their cars in by the book had cars that neither
smoked
nor sounded like they were in need of major adjustment.  IMHO if you go by
the 
book your chances of having success is greater than if you don't.  I just
finished
my break in, by the book, and am still taking it easy even though I have
about
2,500 miles on my rebuild.  I've had it up to 6000 rpm a few times and
occasionally
up to the 5500 red line during shifts.  Before the rebuild with the stock
pistons,
rods, flywheel, distributor, etc., but with my racing cams and twin
dellortos I
frequently pulled 7000 rpm in first and second in shifts, so I am "dying" to
see
how it will do with the additional modifications.  But since I am not in any
special hurry, I would rather take it easy and slowly work my way up the
higher
rpms rather than just blast it, but that is just my way cause I just don't
want
to go through another rebuild any time soon, you know the "Sperry story".  
Just my 2 cents.  
Dan K.  

------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 11:11:34 -0700
From: Jon Pike <jhpike@domain.elided>
Subject: [alfa]Proper engine break in

I get the impression this is one of Those Subjects..  But, since I'm 
nearing that time myself,
I wanted to gather more info and opinions..

I'll state what I've heard and read,  so let me know if I'm off track 
anywhere..

 From what I've heard and read,  the important things are getting a good 
ring seating, not droning along at the same rpm for long amounts of 
time, and some schedule of taking it easy for some period of time.

For the rings,  it would seem that you do want to load it pretty hard, 
very quickly (as per the procedure on the Hastings site) to get them 
bedded in right.  Idleing for long periods can glaze them.  Apparently, 
running at 2000-2500 for first warmup, isn't risking it though.  Also,  
the bedding in process is a thing you do right when you first start up 
the engine,  then you don't drive like that anymore.  (till it's broken in)

Varying the RPM's prevents uneven wear patterns. ( I guess..)

The Alfa reccomendation for customer break in,  where you stay under a 
certain rpm for a certain time, used to be common in new cars,  and now 
is not.  I've wondered what exactly has changed?  Do they do bench break 
in?  Different materials, or different surface prep?  Different philosophy?

I think I'll lean towards the gentle break in school, (unless I hear 
much to counter that) since it would seem from a common sense point of 
view that some early "fitting" wear of new parts has to happen.
And I'm glad that TJ apparently wasn't as hard with the riding crop as 
it sounded at first post...  ;-)

Jon and Marcia  (we're getting there)
77 Spider
Irvine, CA
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